Date: 24 Mar 1915 - 31 May 1915

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Other details

Contained records

Memorandum by WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, on the capture of Borkum, the closure of the mouths of the Jade and Elbe, the entry to the Baltic, and the "decisive military stroke", the landing of a 500,000 strong army at Emden [typescript].

Telegram from Gen Sir Ian Hamilton to the War Office, reporting that they had broken the back of the work, and would begin embarking Australians and New Zealanders on 4 Apr, with the French and the Royal Naval Division to follow [typescript copy].

Minute from Commodore Charles de Bartolome, Naval Secretary, Admiralty, to WSC, First Lord, on the promotion of Lord Dunraven to Temporary Commander, RNR, poining out that Dunraven's yacht was not on Admiralty service, and it would be "out of place" to promote him, annottated by WSC, asking Edward Marsh to "write him a nice letter".

Minute from Edward Marsh, Admiralty to the Director of Naval Ordnance, and the Director of the Air Department, on offer from Col. Sir John Willoughby of his squadron of four armoured cars, asking if it would be possible for them to be provided with a 3 pounder Hotchkiss Gun.

Minute from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to the Secretary, Admiralty (W Graham Greene), agreeing that only the supreme need of the Army could justify any slackening in naval production or diversion of supplies, and on reserves of ammunition for the Grand Fleet [handwritten, initialled by WSC].

Minute from Sir James Marshall, Director of Dockyards, Admiralty to Commodore Charles de Bartolome, Naval Secretary to First Lord, confirming that HMS "Kent" would not be able to dock at Esquimalt Dock, Canada, and that the nearest dock was at San Fransisco.

Minute from Commodore Charles de Bartolome, Naval Secretary to WSC, First Lord, of the Admiralty, on proposed conference between Britain, France and Italy to discuss naval and military arrangements in the Mediterranean.

Minute from Edward Marsh, Admiralty to Captain Murray Sueter, Director of the Air Department, enclosong papers on aerial torpedo invented by King, and brouht to WSC's attention by William Stoker, a retired Colonial Judge.

Minute from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to Lord Fisher, 1st Sea Lord, suggesting that 20 Midshipmen be transferred to the Naval Air Service "we have drowned 50 doing nothing, and this is a splendid education [handwritten, initialled by WSC, annotated "Concur" by Fisher"].

Minute by WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty on German use of "asphyxiating shells" asking for details of masks supplied to the fleet, suggesting that something very simple was required which could be made easily and in large quantities, with replied by various Admiralty Departments.

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Amiralty to Rear-Admiral John de Robeck, Naval C. in C,. Dardanelles, on his suggestion to abandon the original plan for the naval forcing of the Dardanelles, and to use the whole military force available, whish would not be available until 14 Apr [handwritten draft, not sent - Lord Fisher (1st Sea Lord) had threatened to resign if the telegram was sent. WSC modified it and the redrafted version (CHAR 13/65) was sent on 24 Mar.].

Minute from the Director of Transports, Admiralty, to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, on transport of troops to the Dardanelles, reporting that one Division was delayed by 24 hours by War Office action and half a Division was delayed a further 24 hours by labour difficulties [typescript copy].

Letter from Alfred Whist, Christiania [Oslo] Norway, to F Leverton Harris MP, on need to cut off German exports. Also account of visit to Berlin and to the English Concentration Camp at Ruhleben, commenting on the "awful sanitary conditions" [typscript extracts].

Minute from Commander R M Groves, Air Dept, Admiralty to Edward Marsh, Admiralty, stating that the Admiralty had examined the "All British" aero-engine, and that there was no justification for support in developing the engine.

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to Victor Augagneur, French Minister of Marine, confirming that four British Battleships and four Light Cruisers would leave the dardanelles for service in the Adriatic as soon as their French replacements arrived, asking for the names of the French ships and the dates of relief [handwritten, initialled by WSC].

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to the Italian Minister of Marine, confirming that four British Battleships and four Light cruisers under the command of Rear-Admiral Cecil Thursby would leave the Dardanelles for service in the Adriatic as soon as they had been relieved by French ships [carbon].

Letter from Captain Murray Sueter [Director of Air Department, Admiralty] to [Edward] Marsh [Private Secretary to WSC on the order of guns from the United States. He expresses concern at the delay in finalising the contract letter for the firm. Signed typescript.

Minute from WSC to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sea Lords, Vice-Adm Sir Frederick Hamilton, Rear-Adm Frederick Tudor and Captain Cecil Lambert, thanks for minute of 18 May on the power of the First Lord to initiate action, stating that he felt it best if the 1st Sea Lord made proposals and the First Lord to criticise or concur "but no rule can be laid down". Stating that the First Lord had the power of not only of veto but of initiation. Agreeing that the four Sea Lords should be more fully consulted on large questions of war policy, but thet neither Prince Louis of Battenberg [later 1st Lord Milford Haven] or Lord Fisher were in favour. [handwritten copy, initialled by WSC].

Minute from WSC to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sea Lords, Vice-Adm Sir Frederick Hamilton, Rear-Adm Frederick Tudor and Captain Cecil Lambert, praising their "loyalty to national interests" during the present emergency, but putting on record his opinion that there was not the slightest foundation for their statement that the "method of directing the distribution of the Fleet and the conduct of the war" had been taken out of the hands of the 1st Sea Lord, stating that "no order of the slightest consequence affecting the movement of the Fleet or its distribution has ever been issued except with the authority and agreement of the 1st Sea Lord" [handwritten, initialled by WSC].

Admiralty statement on German naval activity in the Thames Estuary on 1 May, including the sinking of the destroyer HMS "Recruit" by a German submarine, and attack on the trawler "Columbia" by two torpedo boats [carbon].

Admiralty statement on the operations leading to the destruction of the German Pacific Squadron, including the destruction of Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock's squadron off Coronel and the sinking of the "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" at the Battle of the Falklands [carbon].

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to Vice-Admiral John de Robeck, on naval and military operations in the Dardanelles, and the possible abandonment of naval plan to force the Dardanelles without the aid of a large army [carbon].

Minute from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sea Lords, Vce-Adm Sir Frederick Hamilton, Rear-Adm Frederick Tudor and Captain Cecil Lambert to WSC, First Sea Lord, accepting that "no order of an consequence afecting the movements of the Fleet...has ever been issued except with the authority and agreement of the 1st Sea Lord", but pointing out that in most cases action had been initiated by WSC and referred to the 1st Sea Lord (Lord Fisher) for concurrence, maintaining that orders should be initiated by the 1st Sea Lord and referred to the First Lord for criticism or concurrence.Also asking for assurance that all Sea Lords were consulted and kept more fully informed on large points of policy.

Admiralty minute on the destruction of the British submarine, E15, grounded on Kephey Point, by boats from HMS "Triumph" and HMS "Majestic", to prvent the submarine falling into Turkish hands in a serviceable condition, praising the commander of the expedition, Lt-Cdr Eric Robinson [carbon].

Admiralty minute on German submarine activity, suggesing that ships avoid the danger areas for three days out of four "for three days German submarines would be useless and would find no prey, on the fourth day they would be confronted with e crowd of shipping out of which...they could not take a proportionate toll".

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to Vice-Admiral Sackville Carden, asking for details of the strength and composition of Turkish troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and his views on aid which could be given by a military force".